Manchester United came out all guns blazing against Newcastle to win a five goal thriller and keep up their faint hopes of a place in Europe next season.
Manchester United ended a three-match winless run with an impressive 3-2 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford. Kobbie Mainoo opened the scoring in the first half before United were pegged back by Anthony Gordon after the break. However, Amad Diallo scored his first Premier League goal before Rasmus Hojlund sealed the points despite Lewis Hall’s late screamer.
Manchester United had their young stars to thank as they recorded a hard-fought 3-2 win over Newcastle United that takes the race for European football to the final day.
In a high-octane encounter where both sides threw caution to the wind, it was the home side who took the lead thanks to Kobbie Mainoo just after the half-hour, after Diallo darted infield looking to link with Bruno Fernandes.
The pass instead found Mainoo, unmarked and onside, in plenty of space, and the teenager stroked home into the corner.
Casemiro cleared a Dan Burn header off the line six minutes later as Newcastle threatened, and Eddie Howe’s Magpies started the second half the stronger, deservedly equalising through Anthony Gordon four minutes in.
A sloppy touch from Sofyan Amrabat was seized upon by Alexander Isak, who fed Jacob Murphy down the right. His cross was delivered perfectly for Gordon to tap home at the back post.
However, United were ahead again eight minutes later as a Fernandes corner was cleared by Murphy, but only into the path of Diallo, who lurked ominously on the edge of the area. The Ivorian struck powerfully, lashing home his first Premier League goal.
Rasmus Hojlund, dropped to the bench for this game, made an instant impact when called upon, taking just 104 seconds to score the third as he held off the attentions of Burn to arrow home with his right foot.
Lewis Hall’s sumptuous stunner in the second minute of stoppage time set up a nervy finish, but United held on to give under-fire Erik ten Hag a big three points and build momentum for a season-defining FA Cup final.